A body was found off the North Carolina coast after an empty boat was spotted circling the water.
The U.S. Coast Guard received a report at approximately 3:40 p.m. Friday about an empty 16-foot white center console boat traveling in circles near Emerald Isle, outside of Bogue Inlet Pier, near the beach, Coast Guard Lt. Andrew Jacot told both the Carteret County News-Times and WITN on Sunday.
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Coast Guard Petty Officer Steve Lehmann told McClatchy News that the Coast Guard later received a report the boat had run aground.
The Coast Guard deployed a rescue boat and a helicopter to search for the driver of the boat, whose body was soon located about a mile off of Bogue Inlet.
Jacot said the deceased man’s family told authorities he had gone out fishing alone. He was not immediately publicly identified.
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Carteret Fire and Police, NC Wildlife, and Hammocks Beach State Park rangers aided in the search.